Mayhem in Kuala Kangsar

The Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) fires several rounds of tear gas as 3,000 Pakatan Rakyat supporters converge for a protest march about 1km from Iskandariah palace in Kuala Kangsar.

LIVE REPORTS

3.25pm: The situation calms down at the mosque and several people are seen crying.

3.20pm: Police have finally cleared the blockade by the crowd and all cars are able to proceed to Iskandariah Palace.

3.19pm: A vehicle with a yellow (royal) registration plate is pelted with stones by angry supporters.

3.18pm: Tear gas still being fired into the mosque compound. Deputy Premier Najib Abdul Razak's car enters the palace.

3.11pm: A group of protesters are lying on the road to block the passing cars.

3.10pm: FRU personnel manage to remove the bloackade and cars are passing through to the palace.

3.08pm: Tear gas is fired at those blocking the road. The FRU are also arresting those blocking the road.

3.06pm: About 300 people are blocking the road leading to the palace, stopping dignitaries and BN politicians from attending the swearing-in ceremony, which is to kick off at 3.30pm.

3.04pm: The crowd is dispersed. Some are trying to block the road leading to the palace.

3.01pm: FRU charges at the crowd. A handful are seen throwing stones at the police.

2.59pm: More tear gas is fired into the mosque carpark.

2.58pm: Crowd retreats to the mosque.

2.50pm: Another round of tear gas is fired. Crowd refuses to back down with some throwing rocks at the FRU personnel.

2.43pm: Police tells the crowd to disperse.

2.41pm:The crowd swells to about 3,000 with some carrying banners calling on the sultan to dissolve the state assembly. FRU personnel are moving into position.

Earlier report

Some 500 Pakatan Rakyat supporters broke through a police barricade outside the Ubudiah mosque in Kuala Kangsar - about 1km from the Iskandariah Palace - during a protest march this afternoon.

At precisely 2.22pm, the supporters, which included a large group of women, had gathered outside the mosque after Friday prayers.

They had wanted to march from the mosque to the Iskandariah Palace where the swearing in of the new Perak menteri besar is scheduled to take place at 3.30pm.

At 2.26pm, the crowd breaches the police barricade, and at 2.28pm, the police retaliate by firing several rounds of tear gas.

This forced the supporters to retreat back into the mosque.

The police have deployed some 30 Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) and 20 uniformed personnel.

At 2.40pm, the crowd regroups outside the mosque as police sirens are heard blaring in the background. It is learnt that several truckloads of FRU personnel are being deployed to the scene.